Apparatus for transporting heavy objects

ABSTRACT

An articulated flat bed trailer for transporting large, bulky objects such as ships propellers and the like. The flat bed of the trailer includes a hinged portion hydraulically rotatable from the horizontal position to an angle of approximately 55* 35* from the horizontal to minimize simultaneously horizontal and vertical overhang of the object. Means are provided to maintain the center of gravity of the rotated flat bed portion object combination within safe limits.

United States Patent Taylor [54] APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING HEAVYOBJECTS [72] Inventor: Louis Dale Taylor, 624 Park Avenue,

Freehold, NJ. 07728 [22] Filed: May 19, 1970 [2]] Appl. No.: 38,665

[52] U.S. Cl ..280/179, 298/18, 214/50] [51 Int. Cl ..B60p 7/08 [58]Field oi'Search ..296/3; 298/18; 214/501; 280/ 179 [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,903,274 9/1959 Leonard ..280/179 [151 3,655,218[451 Apr. 11, 1972 3,236,562 2/1966 Maxon ..298/18X PrimaryExaminer-Philip Goodman Attorney-Bryan W. Sheffield [5 7] ABSTRACT Anarticulated flat bed trailer for transporting large, bulky objects suchas ships propellers and the like. The flat bed of the trailer includes ahinged portion hydraulically rotatable from the horizontal position toan angle of approximately 5535 from the horizontal to minimizesimultaneously horizontal and vertical overhang of the object. Means-areprovided to maintain the center of gravity of the rotated flat bedportion object combination within safe limits.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented April 1 l, 1972 3,655,218

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 I V 1 3 6 H ATTORNEY Patented April 11, 1972 3,655,218

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3 /7 g mlllllllllll I "HIIHUI 38 24 I E g gIllIlllllllllllllllllllll E71 llll H P E la I I l 2/ 35 27 2/ $4 I IlllPatented April 11, 1912 3,655,218

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ml i um APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING HEAVY OBJECTSBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Broadly speaking, this invention relates toan apparatus for transporting heavy objects. More particularly, in apreferred embodiment, this invention relates to an apparatus fortransporting heavy objects having one dimension thereof substantiallysmaller than the other dimensions thereof.

The transportation of large, bulky objects poses severe problems for thetransportation industry. In particular, the transportation of large,bulky objects having one dimension thereof substantially smaller thanthe other dimensions thereof is particularly difficult and in manyinstances the problems are insurmountable. Examples of such objects areairplane wings, ships propellers, sections of pre-fabricated houses,containerized shipping cartons, etc.

The problem, basically, is that when objects of this weight and bulk aretransported by road, the transportation vehicle is subject to variousFederal and State regulations which limit the overall, effective widthof the vehicle. Similarly, when such objects are shipped by rail, theclearance which must be maintained between adjacent parallel tracks ofthe railroad, also limits the overall, effective width of the vehicle.Similar considerations apply to the transportation of such objects bysea or canal barge.

Manifestly, these problems cannot be overcome simply by rotating thebulky object by 90. This would certainly reduce the overall effectivewidth of the vehicle, but only at the expense of the overall, effectiveheight. Thus, the transportation vehicle would encounter severedifficulties in negotiating routes which had bridges, tunnels, overheadwires, etc. in its path.

As a solution to this problem, U.S. Pat. No. 2,903,274 which issuedSept. 8, 1959 in the name of T. A. Leonard, Jr. proposed a supportmechanism which could be bolted to the bed of a conventional flat-bedarticulated trailer to support the bulky object to be transported. Thesupport could be pivoted between two fixed positions; one co-planar withthe bed of the truck, the other at a 45 angle to the plane of the bed ofthe truck. The bulky object to be transported was lifted onto thesupport, and secured thereto, while the support was in the horizontalposition. Then, the support was moved to its second position, so thatthe object to be transported made a 45 angle to the bed of the truck.The 45 angle was, of course, chosen to simultaneously minimize theeffective, overall width and height of the truckobject combination. Itwill be evident that the apparatus disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,903,274was designed on the basis of two assumptions. These assumptions are:

l. The object to be transported is symmetrical and hence tilting to a 45angle will simultaneously minimize both the effective overall height andwidth; and

2. When so tilted, the center of gravity of the truckobject combinationfalls between the wheels of the truck, on the center line, so that thecombination is in a stable state of equilibrium.

These assumptions are, in general, not true for the majority ofworkpieces to be transported. Only occasionally is a perfectlysymmetrical workpiece to be found. Thus, the apparatus show in U.S. Pat.No. 2,903,274 is of limited application in the industry.

Put another way, in general, tilting the object to be transported at afixed angle of 45 to the bed of the truck will not simultaneouslyminimize both the effective width and height of the truck-objectcombination. Worse than that, however, is the fact that the center ofgravity of the combination may lie dangerously close to one of the setsof wheels so that in any emergency situation, or on a sharp curve, thereis a very real danger that the vehicle may overturn, with consequentloss of life and limb, not only to the driver, but to the public aswell.

The object of this invention, then, is to find an apparatus fortransporting large, bulk, heavy objects having one dimensionsubstantially smaller than the other dimension thereof which willsimultaneously minimize the overall, effective width and height of thetruck object combination but yet which will at all times be in a stablestate of equilibrium.

The above problem has been solved by the instant invention which in oneillustrative embodiment comprises an apparatus for transporting anobject having one dimension substantially smaller than its otherdimensions, which comprises a main body member adapted to receive atleast one pair of rotatable transporting wheels; a secondary body memberpivotally mounted to said main body member; means connected to said mainbody member, for rotating said secondary body member about an axis ofsaid main body member between a position substantially co-planar withsaid main body member and a position substantially normal to the planeof said main body member; and means, connected to said secondary bodymember, for mounting said object to said secondary body member so thatas said main body member is rotated by said rotating means, thehorizontal and vertical overhang of said object is minimizedsimultaneously.

The invention and its mode of operation will be more fully understoodfrom the following detailed description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of one illustrative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 taken aboutline 22;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is another side view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 takenabout line 66.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The invention will now bedescribed with reference to an illustrative embodiment, i.e., anarticulated tractor-trailer truck. One skilled in the art, however, willappreciate that the invention is not so limited and may be used in therail, ship and airplane transportation industries. Referring now to FIG.1, articulated trailer 10 comprises a flatbed 11, having a plurality ofpneumatic tires 12 rotatably mounted thereto by conventional axle means.The trailer 10 has a stepped portion 13 to receive the mating portion ofa trailer truck, which truck supplies the necessary motive power fortrailer 10.

A pair of I beams 16 extend along the length of flat bed 11, as far asstepped portion 13, to provide support for any load placed thereon. TheI beams 16 are fastened to the lower surface of flat bed 11 and to theaxle of tires 12. A load supporting member 17 is cut from the centralportion of flat bed 11 and is pivotally mounted to one of the I beams 16by means of hinge members 21 mounted thereto. Load supporting member 17comprises a pair of outer beam supports 22, a pair of end beams 23 and aplurality of cross-beams 24 supporting a plate 26.

Load supporting member 17 is fastened to hinge members 21 by means ofpins 27 passing through hinge members 21 and into cross beams 24.

A threaded, cylindrical workpiece retaining pin 30 is fastened at oneend to plate 26.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 2, pin 30 may be inserted through theshaft hole of a ships propeller when the propeller comprises the objectto be transported. In that event, the propeller may be retained by acoaxial plug 31 and a lock nut 32 mounted on the threaded end of pin 30.If the workpiece to be transported is not provided with a centralaperture other known mechanical retaining means may be secured to plate26 in lieu of pin 30.

A plurality of hydraulically operated pistons 36 are pivotally mountedat one end to the other I beam 16 by means of a hinge plate 37. Theother end of the pistons 36 are pivotally mounted to one of the outerbeams 22 by means of a corresponding plurality of hinges 38. Obviously,a plurality of compressed air cylinders could likewise be utilized inlieu of hydraulic cylinders, if desired.

Load supporting member 17 may be pivoted between the horizontalposition, as shown in FIG. 3, and a position substantially vertical, asshown in FIG. 1. Practically speaking, however, the angle used will liesomewhere between 55 and 35, as shown in FIG. 2.

In operation, the load to be transported is fastened to load supportingmember 17 by means of pin 30, or other load securing means, while thesupporting member is in the horizontal position. This facilitates theloading procedure and reduces stress on the pins 27 and hinges 21 duringloading. Next, pistons 36 are actuated by conventional valve means (notshown) to rotate supporting member 17 upwardly to the angle whichsimultaneously minimizes overhang in the horizontal and vertical planes.Conventional control means for the hydraulic cylinders will maintainload supporting member 17 at the desired angle. Alternatively, a simplemechanical fastener may be used to inhibit movement thereof when thetrailer is subjected to stresses caused by poor road conditions, etc.

As previously discussed, merely displacing load supporting member 17through the angle 6 to minimize overhang may not suffice if the load tobe transported is non-symmetrical. To that end, an alternate embodimentof the invention is shown in FIG. and FIG. 6. In this embodiment, thelower end of pin 30 is fastened to a support plate 40 which is slidablymounted in, and retained by, a channel formed between an aperture 41 anda pair of U-shaped beams 42 mounted to the lower surface of member 17.

Plate 40 is connected by a pin 43 to a hydraulically operated cylinder44 positioned beneath supporting member 17 and fastened at the other endto a cross beam 46 connected between and fastened to the U-shaped beams42. A slotted cover plate 47 is mounted by bolts 48 to the upper surfaceof supporting member 17 to retain plate 40 in the channel formed betweenmember 17 and U-shaped beams 42.

In operation, the non-symmetrical object to be transported is loadedonto support member 17 as discussed priorly, while the support member isin the horizontal position. Next, hydraulic cylinders 36 and 44 aresimultaneously operated to rotate support member 17 upwardly and to moveplate 40, and hence pin 30, in the channel formed between U-shaped beams42 and member 17.

This insures that the vertical and horizontal overhang of the load isminimized but that the center of gravity of the load falls substantiallyover the center line of the trailer.

There is, of course, an interaction between the operation of cylinders39 and cylinder 44 so that some trial and error is required before theoptimum condition is attained, but a skilled operator can rapidly arriveat the desired combination of the rotation of load supporting member 17and the displacement of pin 30. It will be noted that when member 17 isin the horizontal position, pin 30 may be removed and trailer 10 thenmay be used in a conventional manner to transport conventional loads.

One skilled in the art may make various changes to the apparatus andarrangement of parts disclosed without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for transporting an object having one dimensionsubstantially smaller than its other dimensions, which comprises:

a main body member adapted to receive at least one pair of rotatabletransporting wheels;

a secondary body member pivotally mounted to said main body member;

means, connected to said main body member, for rotating said secondarybody member about an axis parallel to the principal longitudinal axis ofsaid main body member between a position substantially co-planar withsaid main body member and a position substantially normal to the planeof said main body member; and means, connected to said secondary bodymember, for

mounting said object to said secondary body member so that as saidsecondary body member is rotated by said rotating means, the horizontaland vertical overhang of said object is minimized simultaneously.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said mounting means isslidably connected to said secondary body member, and the apparatusfurther comprises:

means, connected to said secondary body member, for altering therelative position of said mounting means with respect to said secondarybody member so that, as said rotating means alters the angle betweensaid main body member and said secondary body member to minimize saidhorizontal and vertical overhang, said mounting means is moved tomaintain the center of gravity of said apparatus substantially centeredover the principal longitudinal axis thereof.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said rotating meanscomprises at least one cylinder means operable by a controlled supply ofa pressurized fluid.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said altering means comprisesat least one cylinder means operable by a controlled supply ofpressurized fluid.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said main body membercomprises the flat bed portion of an articulated flat bed tractortrailer.

1. Apparatus for transporting an object having one dimensionsubstantially smaller than its other dimensions, which comprises: a mainbody member adapted to receive at least one pair of rotatabletransporting wheels; a secondary body member pivotally mounted to saidmain body member; means, connected to said main body member, forrotating said secondary body member about an axis parallel to theprincipal longitudinal axis of said main body member between a positionsubstantially co-planar with said main body member and a positionsubstantially normal to the plane of said main body member; and means,connected to said secondary body member, for mounting said object tosaid secondary body member so that as said secondary body member isrotated by said rotating means, the horizontal and vertical overhang ofsaid object is minimized simultaneously.
 2. Apparatus according to claim1 wherein said mounting means is slidably connected to said secondarybody member, and the apparatus further comprises: means, connected tosaid secondary body member, for altering the relative position of saidmounting means with respect to said secondary body member so that, assaid rotating means alters the angle between said main body member andsaid secondary body member to minimize said horizontal and verticaloverhang, said mounting means is moved to maintain the center of gravityof said apparatus substantially centered over the principal longitudinalaxis thereof.
 3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein saidrotating means comprises at least one cylinder means operable by acontrolled supply of a pressurized fluid.
 4. Apparatus according toclaim 2 wherein said altering means comprises at least one cylindermeans operable by a controlled supply of pressurized fluid.
 5. Apparatusaccording to claim 3 wherein said main body member comprises the flatbed portion of an articulated flat bed tractor trailer.